Bill Text: HI SB3197 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Agriculture.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Enrolled - Dead) 2022-05-06 - Enrolled to Governor. [SB3197 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-SB3197-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
3197 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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C.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1.
The legislature finds that it is necessary to support beginning farmers
in the State. The legislature believes
that a farmer apprentice mentoring program could increase farming in the State,
ensure the continued use of well developed farming methods, and provide for the
cultivation of new farming methods.
The legislature acknowledges that new and
aspiring farmers face a myriad of challenges, including acquiring adequate
production and business knowledge and skills and accessing the tools necessary
to evaluate their resources and develop feasible farming and business
plans. However, the State lacks
qualified farming method teachers and funding for beginning farmer
training. Further, although the United
States Department of Agriculture provides funding for beginning farmers, this
funding is limited and unreliable.
The legislature believes that the future of
the State's farming industry, food supply, and agriculture is reliant upon
increasing and diversifying the number of new farmers in the State; introducing
regenerative farming methods into the State; enhancing the long-term viability
of farm businesses; utilizing and
building upon existing beginning farmer training methods; providing
opportunities for potential farmers who are socially or financially disadvantaged;
and increasing support for beginning farmers who already own or manage a farm,
and have farmed for five years or less.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
establish the farmer apprentice mentoring program, to be administered by the
department of agriculture.
SECTION 2. Chapter 141, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§141- Farmer
apprentice mentoring program; established. (a) There is established the farmer apprentice mentoring
program, to be administered by the department of agriculture to support former mentors
in training apprentices.
(b) Subject to the availability of funding, the department of agriculture may enter into
contracts with qualified farmer mentorship providers on a first-come, first-served
basis, and in accordance with section 103D-304, to effectuate the purposes of this
section.
(c) A qualified farmer mentorship provider that provides
services pursuant to this section shall make available for inspection and examination
by the department of agriculture during
regular business hours all relevant training and mentoring materials, sites, and
facilities.
(d) The department
of agriculture shall submit a report to the legislature no later than
twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session. The report shall include, at a minimum:
(1) The number of farmer
apprentices enrolled in the farmer apprentice mentoring program during the
preceding year;
(2) A listing of each
qualified farmer mentorship provider;
(3) An assessment of
the ability of farmer mentorship providers participating in the program to complete
any program objectives and work tasks identified by the department of agriculture;
and
(4) An evaluation of the results achieved by the program, to be written, to the extent possible, in measurable and quantifiable terms."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $300,000 or so much thereof as may
be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 to
establish and implement the farmer apprentice mentoring program pursuant
to section 2 of this Act to provide mentoring to farmer apprentices on a whole farm
system approach to agriculture.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.
Report Title:
HDOA; Farmer Apprentice Mentoring Program; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes a farmer apprentice mentoring program. Makes an appropriation to the Department of Agriculture to establish and implement the program. Appropriates funds. (CD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
